Policy & Advocacy

In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its units for influencing policy.

Standards

As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.

Membership

Through the vision and dedication of more than 27,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.

Professional Development

You’ll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!

Special Ed Topics

Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.

Gifted and Talented

There are an estimated three million children with gifts and talents in the United States whose unique educational needs go largely unaddressed. By neglecting the educational needs of these students, we put our country at a disadvantage to effectively compete in the global marketplace and deprive them of an appropriate, challenging education.

Dubbed the “quiet crisis” by former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley in 1993, the availability of gifted education still varies dramatically between and within states, leaving many of our nation’s schools under-prepared to meet the learning needs of students with gifts and talents.

In 2012, consistent with prior reports, the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education found that students who are African American or Hispanic are disproportionately underrepresented in gifted and talented education programs, nationally. Moreover, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to achieve at advanced levels on state assessments and on the National Assessment of Education Progress than their more advantaged peers, known as the Excellence Gap.

Unfortunately, the federal government has done little to properly address the educational needs of students with gifts and talents. In 2011, Congress eliminated all funding for the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, the sole federal program dedicated to supporting the needs of high-ability students. CEC, together with its members and like-minded organizations, advocate to reverse this action and support an increased federal role in gifted education. Every student should have access to a challenging education.